ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – Washington University researchers hope this new study will end the debate over which is the better treatment for most heart patients: aspirin or warfarin (also known as Cumadin).

The answer is aspirin:

The co-author of this study is Dr. Douglas Mann, chief of the cardiovascular division at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Jewish Hospital says “compared with aspirin, patients treated with warfin didn’t do any better.”

Mann says there is no statistical difference between the two groups in the combined rate of death, stroke and brain hemorrhage, but more risk with warfarin.

“The risk and benefits doesn’t favor using warfin which is a blood thinner over aspirin alone. “

However, Mann still recommends warfarin treatment for patients with afib heart failure or who have already had a stroke or a pulmonary embolism.